Star Wars Creature Info

Port of Oakland Photographs

I have an odd obsession. Well, I have many obsessions but this is one of the oddest of them. The obsession is for a set of bizarre structures on the Oakland waterfront that I, along with a few hundred other people, call the "Star Wars Creatures"      The structures are not really that odd or bizarre. They are the cargo cranes that unload cargo in the port of Oakland. The cranes stand tall over the port of Oakland and they look like creatures out of the Star Wars movies (The At-At walkers to be exact). What makes them impressive, more so than the ones in Richmond, is as you are driving over the new 880 overpass or riding on Bart is you get a stunning view the Star Wars creatures in the foreground and an awesome view of San Francisco in the background. On a crisp, clear day it is a very stunning contrast.      To the left I have included pictures of the true the Star Wars creatures. These pictures are of the cranes prior to 1990 that did indeed look like bizarre creatures. The pictures were taken from Bart, From San Francisco and from the island of Alameda. The best place to get a photo of the port, with San Francisco in the background happens to be the middle of Interstate 80. For some reason I do not think the CHP would like it if I stopped to take a photo of the spectacular view from 880.      After the Navy and Army left Oakland, the port took over much of the land the armed forces left behind. They bought new cranes. At night it is truly an impressive sight (from 880 again) but the new cranes do not have the magnitude of the old ones. Part two of my gallery shows the port of Oakland as a working port with those cranes. Like I say it is an obsession, but I hope you can enjoy these strange creations too. Please note I am trying to be funny with my captions and comments.   Please e-mail any comments to Thank you for viewing Viewing Options View Photos, Part Two Oakland Virtual Photo Tour San Francisco Bay Area Photographs San Francisco Travel FAQ San Francisco Travel Books Guestbook Photos for Sale San Francisco Virtual Photo Tour U.S. Photos

Each photo is a thumbnail. Click on the photo or select the title to view in higher resolution Sail Boat Showoff The Star Wars Creatures Closeup It looks just like an animal Its Twin Are they looking at each other? Four Star Wars Creatures The one on the right seems to have lost its head. Better Lighting Same four, but this time from Ground level That Sail Boat Again Which boat to unload? Threesome Another Threesome From Alameda Good view from S.F.